Spot lighting unit



June 19, 1951 N. J. MODAID SPOTLIGHTING UNIT Filed June 1, 194a Neil J. M: Da/d INVENTOR.

Patented June 19, 1951 sro'r LIGHTING UNIT Neil J. McDaid, Charleston, s. 0., assignor of ten per cent to Toole-Woodward Engineering Company, Charleston, S. 0.

Application June 1, 1948, Serial No. 30,492

1 Claim. 1

c This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in spotlighting fixtures and has for its primary object to provide a novel and compact spotlighting fixture, which is adapted for attachment to a suspension or ceiling type fixture.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a spotlighting fixture for use in association with a ceiling type fixture, the spotlighting fixture being easily and conveniently installed on the ceiling type fixture, in operative association therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spotlight unit, which is adapted for attachment to a suspension or ceiling type fixture and which is pivotally installed thereon, so as to be adjustable and to project its beam in various selected directions. V

A meritorious feature of this invention resides in the provision of a pivotally mounted spotlighting fixture, which is pivotally installed on a ceiling type fixture, so that the spotlight can be readily and easily focussed in any desireddirection from the floor by any suitable long instrument.

Another meritorious feature of this invention resides in the provision of an outer shell, which isrigidIysecured to one end of a fluorescent luminaryor to any type of suspension type fixture and which is adapted to pivotally house an inner shell, the inner shell serving to support a lamp.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the provision of means for mounting the outer shell to the end of a fluorescent luminary or the like suspension type fixture, the securing or mounting means serving as a communicating means for wiring a spotlight in the main light or fixture circuit.

These and ancillary objects and other meritorious features are attained by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in perspective of a fluorescent luminary, showing this invention in operative attachment thereto;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of one side of the outer shell;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of this invention as taken substantially along the plane of line 33 in Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of this invention as taken substantially along the plane of line 4-4 in Figure 1, and

2 Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the means provided for attaching a lamp supporting ring to the inner shell.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout, thisinvention, generally designated by the character reference I6, is shown in operative attachment with a conventional fluorescent luminary adaptable for use in association with any type of suspension or ceiling type fixture, the same being shown in the drawings by way of example only. The fluorescent luminary I2 has a pair of op-- posed depending arcuate ends [4, to which this invention may be easily attached, either on oneor both ends, as desired. The semi-circular end caps [4 of the fluorescent luminaries may be utilized, depending upon the spotlighting re quirements of the establishment. In the case where only oneunit is attached, the unsummetrical effect of the added unit will not be easily noticed, due to the small over-all length of the spotlighting unit [9, as compared to the large length of the fluorescent luminary.

This invention comprises an outer shell [4, having a rectangular top l6 and semi-circular or arcuate end caps l8 and 2B, which depend therefrom. Opposed arcuately inturned end sections 22 and 24 terminate in upwardly extending baffies 26 and 28. Pivotally mounted within the outer shell I4 is an inner shell 3!]. The inner shell 30 is of a substantially similar shape, having opposed arcuate sides 3'2 and 34. The sides 32 and 34 are riveted to the sides l3 and 2B of the outer shell, as at 36. However, it is to be apparent that similar or other pivotal attaching means may be employed for securing the two shells together, so that the inner shell is capable of defining an arcuate path of travel Within the outer shell, the outer shell being rigidly attached to the fluorescent luminary or ceiling fixture. Suitable means may be provided for securing the spotlighting unit it to the end cap l4 of the fluorescent luminary and comprises a nipple 38, which rigidly secures the end cap 29 to the end of the luminary, the nipple being inserted in a knockout area 49. However, an arcuate slot or guide-way 68 is formed in the side 34 of the inner shell, the projected end of the nipple travelling within the slot or guide-way 68.

Means is provided for mounting a conventional lamp 42 within the inner shell, the lamp 42 being wired in the circuit of the fluorescent luminary through the medium of a lead wire 44. The

12.. However, it is to be noted that this invention is conducting or lead wire 44 extends through the nipple 38, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The means preferred for mounting the lamp comprises the formation of a circular opening in the substantially fiat bottom portion of the inner shell 30, the opening defining an inwardly directed'flange 46 on the bottom of the inner shell. A lamp supporting ring 48 is suitably secured to the flange 46 of the inner shell by any suitable securing or attachment means. By way of example, an angle clip 50 has one side 52 welded to the ring 48, the opposite side of the angle clip having an attaching aperture 54. Metal screws are employed in association with the attaching apertures 54 and suitable apertures formed in the flange 46 to secure the clip to the inner shell.

A plurality of nested louvres are carried by the supporting ring 48 and disposed in vertical alignment with the seated lens face of the lamp 42. The outer louvre 58 has an attaching flange 69, which is seated on the inwardly directed flanged end of the lamp supporting ring 48. Suitable securing means 62 is provided to attach the circular inner nested louvres 66 and E4 to the outer supporting louvre 58, as shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings.

Thus, it can be seen that the inner shell 35 is free to turn forty-five degrees, right or left, on a horizontal axis. Suitable control means for accomplishing the adjustment of the beam direction may be employed and preferably, would be employed by a person from a floor supported position. A stick or pole or similar instrument may be employed to exert pressure on one side of the inner shell, until the desired angle is obtained. No mechanical stop or locking device is required to hold the lamp at the desired angle, as the center of gravity pivot of the inner shell enables the entire inner assembly to be swung back and forth very easily and conveniently, the construction requiring but a bare minimum of tension in order to remain in the position it is placed.

In order to allow the heat emanating from the lamp to be exhausted into the outer shell, an

opening 19 is formed in the top portion of theinner shell defining a communicating passage between the inner and outershell. Thus, it can be appreciated that there has been provided a compact and efficient attachment for a suspension type fixture, of fluorescent or other structure, which can be easily and conveniently adjusted from a floor position and which, in such adjustment, will remain fixed in the adjusted position.

However, since many other purposes and objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, upon a perusal of the foregoing description, in view of the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that certain changes may be effected thereon, as coming within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A spotlight fixture adapted for attachment to a ceiling light fixture comprising an outer shell, said'outer shell including a rectangular top plate, extending opposed arcuate sides and arcuately inturned ends, an inner shell, of similar shape pivotally mounted to the sides of the outer shell, baffles formed on the ends of the outer shell and projecting upwardly between the shells, a circular ring secured to the open end of the inner shell, a lamp disposed within the inner shell and having a lens face seatedon the ring, nested louvres suspended from the ring in vertical alignment with the lens face of the lamp, aligned open ings in one of the sides of the shells, means disposed in the openings for-attaching the shells to a ceiling light fixture, said inner shell being movable about the attaching means and an opening in the inner shell for exhausting heat into the outer shell.

NEIL J. MCDAID.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,498,580 Rule June 24, 1924 2,622,222 Sullivan Nov. 26, 1935 2,063,744 Kramer Dec. 8, 1936 2,152,197 Levy Mar. 28, 1939 2,300,523 Reichert Nov. 3, 1942 2,313,131 Elias M Mar. 9, 1943 

